Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease was first described and studied in detail by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer.

Alzheimer's disease is a common form of dementia that occurs in people older than 65 years.

The disease is characterized by cell death of the brain's inability to create new neural connections, which seriously affects the memory and intellect of the patient as well as his behavior and perception of the world.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease

The first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can be seen as early as 40 years, but how many people they nastorozhat? Thus, the disease continues to progress, and the symptoms may occur only occasionally: then appearing, then disappearing.

After 65 years, the disease makes itself felt, and become apparent persistent symptoms of Alzheimer's disease plaguing not only the patient, but also his family.

Each person primary symptoms of Alzheimer's disease may be your own. One man passing by looking in the mirror may not recognize themselves in the first few seconds. The other memory may deteriorate or entangled past and present. These symptoms neurologists determine the stage of Alzheimer's disease.

Typically, the first stage of Alzheimer's disease were no significant changes in the behavior and consciousness of the person. When a medical examination profound memory deficits are not revealed, but the man himself only occasionally may complain of apathy.

The symptoms of the second stage of Alzheimer's disease can be mistaken for normal age-related changes. This stage is characterized by minor disturbances of memory and attention, distraction. An elderly person can forget the location of objects in the house. At the medical examination, these violations are not detected.

In the third stage of Alzheimer's disease in a detailed medical examination detected abnormalities in attention and memory. The patient starts communication difficulties, due to the fact that some words are forgotten and replaced by others without appropriate meaning. There are difficulties in perception and remembering new information; several patient depressed and confused. At this stage, usually diagnosed early stage Alzheimer's disease.

When a medical examination of the patient on the fourth stage of Alzheimer's disease found pronounced violations. In society, the patient feels confused, depressed. He does not know what to do in a given situation, confusing events is not able to plan their activities, manage finances.

The fifth stage of Alzheimer's disease - the average. All the more necessary becomes a help to perform basic activities. For example, to dress for the weather and fasten all the buttons correctly. Medical examination reveals that the patient is no longer able to remember important details of his biography. May have difficulty with orientation in space and time.

The sixth stage of Alzheimer's disease destroys personality. The patient has different delusions, groundless suspicions and fears. Manifested craving for vagrancy. Also, there is a depression with bouts of aggression and hallucinations. At this stage the patient is in need of constant care and assistance, because even when using the toilet he may have difficulties. He still remembers his name, but says almost nothing, or only occasionally speaks some words and phrases.

Seventh stage - the latest, extremely difficult. There use the toilet patient can not; urinary incontinence often occurs. He almost never says no smiles and no longer able to keep his head. He often is, because the walk and sit without assistance can not.

Causes of Alzheimer's disease

For Alzheimer's disease are more prone women than men. This is due to the fact that the life expectancy of men especially do not allow them to reach the age at which the disease appears.

Some believed that the disease susceptible people poorly educated. This is partly true, because people with low intelligence brain connection is weaker.

I must say that the low level of intelligence - it is not an indicator. A significant role in the development of Alzheimer's disease plays a hereditary factor that increases the risk of disease significantly.

The main causes of Alzheimer's disease also include hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis. That is why it is important to prevent and treat these diseases in time as long as they have not provoked something more terrible and serious.

Treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Drugs capable of stopping this disease is not yet available. Treatment of Alzheimer's disease is only directed at relieving symptoms.

With frequent attacks of aggression in order to reduce the excitability is usually used tranquilizers and anticonvulsants.

In order for some time to bring the patient out of the doldrums it is possible to use non-pharmacological methods. It can be anything that causes positive emotions in the patient; all that he once loved. Favorite music, close friends, pleasant aromas, and even sunbathing - all this stabilizes the mood and make it easier for the disease.

Anxiety and hallucinations characteristic of patients can be treated with antidepressants. It would be useful to protect the patient from the hustle and hassles and offer him a daily diary that will compensate for memory loss in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Preventing Alzheimer's

To date, approximately 30% of all people older than 65 years are at risk, and eventually they will be 2-3 times more. So now you need to ask yourself a question: what have I done to old age not to be in the number of cases?

The prevention of Alzheimer's proven that Omega 3 fatty acids in salmon and other fatty fish, slow down the onset of the disease and mitigate its course.

However, this disease is not primarily to provoke an unhealthy diet, and mental "inactive", a low level of intelligence. Playing chess, language, learning a new musical instrument - all this makes the brain to build all new neural connections. This means that increases the likelihood that Alzheimer's you and your loved ones will not be affected.